Use the App Store Without a Credit Card

Signing up to use the App Store requires a credit card, right? Wrong. We showed you how to use iTunes without a credit card, and it turns out you can do the same thing with the iOS and Mac App Store too.

A credit card-free account is a perfect solution for setting up an iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac for a kid or for use in a public space, when you want to provide access to the free downloads and updates in the App Stores without the ability to make purchases through it. Even without a credit card attached to the Apple ID, you can add gift certificates and redeem codes through this account, making for an easy budgeting system should you wish to provide limited access to App Store purchases down the road.

How to Setup and Use iOS & Mac App Store With No Credit Card

Note: If you are having problems with the method described below, open a link to a free app available on the App Store first. That will allow the “none” payment option to be available.

Open the iOS App Store or Mac App Store and click on “Account” from the right-hand side

If currently logged into an Apple account, click on “Sign Out” otherwise click the “Create Apple ID” button (alternatively, you can sign up on the web directly from Apple)

Agree to the Terms and Conditions and fill out the Apple ID creation page, set this up for a new email address than your primary app store account

At the “Provide a Payment Method” screen, select “None” as the payment option

Optionally, add a gift certificate to pad the account with an app purchase budget

You’ll still need to login (or use Touch ID) as usual when downloading things, but there will no longer be a credit card tied to the account which limits the account to free downloads, or to whatever credit is applied to the account. This is a great solution for setting up secondary devices, devices for kids, or even for yourself if you just want to avoid spending too much on apps and games.

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32 Comments

Just on a side note, another option is a “Click & Buy” account (if you don’t have a credit card or a gift certificate). But keep in mind, when your “Click & Buy” account is out of balance … you will be fined a 15 euro (don’t know the exact amount they charge you in $) and your Apple ID will be on lock down until you make due on the negative “Click & Buy” balance / account. Reason for telling you this is because i am, currently, trying to get my Apple ID unlocked so i can update my apps again. iTunes support is currently in contact with me asking me all sorts of relevant question to verify me, as a person, before i can get access to my Apple ID again…

I just use the same Apple ID but turn off Purchases and In-App Purchases, that way all the downloads are kept under the same account. Juggling different Apple ID’s for family members is a mess that needs to be sorted out by Apple.

Depends on the country. Only US and other major stores have the none option. All other countries require an activation fee. Mostly this is around a $1. Therefore, they will not allow you to create an account without any form of payment.

The above blog post must be edited with that information. I tried it before. They charge you a dollar to create the account.

i am in japan.i have created an apple account without payment.i dont know how i did it.i wasnt even aware that we have to pay if we create an account until my cousin told me cz he failed himself.but i really dont know i how i made an account without being asked for a credit info..everytime i buy in the app store i can see the list of credit company names and the last option is the “none”…
now i have bought a prepaid card-like but i dont know how to use it.anyone can help pls?

Hmmm… I was back here in the early days (even before the garden wall was erected!) and no way on gods wide earth was Apple getting my credit card no. (not very flush anyway) and they still haven’t god bless ‘em.
When you go to get a Free download then there is the option to choose payment type none.

yup, for us non US customers we can’t create an account without a credit card, previously we were able to create a US account without without a CC but know we to use a US VPN or a proxy server to connect to iTunes then create an account by downloading a free app.

just bought my ipad. had initially registered my credit card but reset it then tried the suggestion above and it worked like a charm. thank you
just select none then fill the area in red below it which is your name, address and phone number. viola

You can’t use an Apple Id on the AppStore without a credit card.
– When you create the account use any valid credit card (you just need it for this step)
– Then on iTunes go to Store > View My Account -> Payment Information and finally you can select “None” as payment method

All you aliens out there – put the CC number in.
Go back in to appstore settings and you should see the ‘none’ button option offered now.
After selecting that and saving you should see ‘no payment details on file’ or something similar.

Apple this is just gross incompetence.
You’re getting worse every year.

I am from India. I tried changing the country to U.S. I even filled the details with an US address. Everything was fine and I got the none option. But at the final step i.e the verification step it kept on repeating Apple ID & Password entered incorrectly. What is this. My phone is useless without apps. Pls help me out of this.

[…] Apple ID. This applies the same to both iTunes & Apple accounts that have credit cards and those that do not. Additionally, a gift card redeemed in one store or service will be available as credit in another, […]

First of all open app store without signing in and go to any free app. Then press on get button, you will be redirected to create an account and you will get option to make free account.
Hope this helps.